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Rebel leader 'is new Ivorian PM' Rebel leader 'is new Ivorian PM'
(about 5 hours later)
The leader of Ivory Coast's New Forces rebels, Guillaume Soro, has been named as prime minister, his group says. The leader of Ivory Coast's New Forces rebels, Guillaume Soro, is to be named as prime minister, his group says.
The New Forces made the announcement on its website - a partisan but usually well-informed source. Mediators from Burkina Faso say an agreement was signed on Monday but President Laurent Gbagbo has not yet confirmed the reports.
Mr Soro and his bitter enemy President Laurent Gbagbo signed a peace deal earlier this month - but the president has not confirmed the rebels' claim. Mr Soro, 35, and his bitter enemy President Gbagbo signed a peace deal in Burkina Faso earlier this month.
Ivory Coast has been in crisis since the New Forces seized the north of the country in September 2002.Ivory Coast has been in crisis since the New Forces seized the north of the country in September 2002.
According to the statement on the website, Mr Soro will be named prime minister by presidential decree shortly. BBC Ivory Coast correspondent James Copnall says that if Mr Soro is named prime minister, it would mark an extraordinary about-turn.
There has been no independent confirmation of the appointment but there has been heavy speculation in recent weeks that Mr Soro will be offered the post.
Military wing
Mr Soro and President Gbagbo signed a new peace accord at the beginning of the month.
Mr Gbagbo (L) and Mr Soro (R) agreed a peace deal this month
One of the terms of the deal was that a new government would be formed in the next few weeks.
But if Mr Soro is named prime minister, it will mark an extraordinary about-turn.
The rebel leader has frequently spoken of his hatred of President Gbagbo, a man he took up arms to overthrow.The rebel leader has frequently spoken of his hatred of President Gbagbo, a man he took up arms to overthrow.
There are also doubts about whether the military wing of the New Forces, which is often more hard-line than Mr Soro, will accept the decision. There are also doubts about whether the military wing of the New Forces, which is often more hard-line than Mr Soro, will accept the decision, our reporter says.
Sacrifice offer 'War is over'
"The two parties signed the document yesterday [Monday], and now it remains only for Gbagbo to sign the decree appointing Guillaume Soro prime minister," Burkina Faso Security Minister Djibril Bassolet told the AFP news agency.
GUILLAUME SORO 1972: Born to poor farmers in north1997: Imprisoned for leading student protests2000: Asked to head youth wing of Gbagbo's party2002: Named rebel leader Profile: Charming rebel
Mr Gbagbo's spokesman refused to comment but the president did say on national television that a new government would be in place within a week at the latest.
"I can assure you the war is over," he said.
The formation of a new government was part of the peace deal Mr Soro and President Gbagbo signed at the beginning of the month.
Current Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny was appointed by the international community at the end of 2005.Current Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny was appointed by the international community at the end of 2005.
He was meant to have extensive powers but President Gbagbo made it clear he would not relinquish his authority to the prime minister.He was meant to have extensive powers but President Gbagbo made it clear he would not relinquish his authority to the prime minister.
On Monday Mr Banny said he was prepared to sacrifice his position if it was in the interests of the nation.On Monday Mr Banny said he was prepared to sacrifice his position if it was in the interests of the nation.
The latest peace deal is seen as Ivory Coast's best chance yet of coming out of its prolonged crisis. Our reporter says the latest peace deal is seen as Ivory Coast's best chance yet of coming out of its prolonged crisis.
But the personal rivalry between President Gbagbo and Mr Soro, and their failure to implement past accords, mean Ivorians are not overly optimistic this time round. But the personal rivalry between President Gbagbo and Mr Soro, and their failure to implement past accords, mean Ivorians are not overly optimistic this time round, he says.